Habitat and animal background
The California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) as its name suggests, lives around the coastal areas of the state of California, however they can exist in different areas of the globe that can range from Vancouver Island in Canada to the to the most southern tip of Baja California peninsula. They prefer to live in warmer waters of the world. The geography of these coastlines is mainly both rocky and sandy, with many islands surrounding the main beach. These rocky beaches also hold different geological features such as tide pools which are very frequent in these shores during low tide. Common populations exist on the borders of the Pacific Ocean but other populations of California Sea Lions can exist on other places as well such as the Galapagos Islands, far from the Pacific Ocean. Sea lions have the capability to live in different types of environment.
The California sea lion breeds during in June to July, on offshore islands in the southern islands of the California’s Channel Islands to Mexico. Even with this, there is a small percentile of sea lion pups that are born in Ano Nuevo and Farallon islands in central California, far north of its range. They migrate to warmer climates during breeding season to raise their young, because of the change of seasons (from summer to winter).
Environmental Pressures
The California sea lion evolves to mainly increase its speed. A possible explination could be because of the evolutionary status of that of its predators and prey. The California Sea lions predator and prey mainly include those which have suprising agility and capability to reach speeds that match its own. Therefore there is an environmental pressure to be as fast as possible.
Behavioural
One behavioural aspect to California sea lion is that they are very social. They are often found in groups or packs where they have a larger chance of survival through the overwhelming numbers. This behaviour will allow a better chance of survival of each seal as the overwhelming number of seals will force its predators to have to pick and chose one out of countless others. By sticking together into groups, it also gives an increased chance of a pup’s survival as there are more seals to watch out for danger instead of being on their own.
The second behavioural aspect to California sea lion is that they regulate their body temperatures by placing their backs on the surface of the water. When sea lions regulate their body temperatures, they raise their flippers in the air to absorb heat from the sun, raising their body temperature. This allows them protection from the cool waters they thrive in, allowing them to maintain and regulate their body tempratures. They also have the possibility of coming out of the water and heat themselves up when the sun is shining
The Marine Mammal Center
Structual
The most notibale structual adaptation of a california sea lion is that its body is of streamline shape. Its sleek body allows it to move fairly quickly in the water to be able to outrun predeators and catch its prey. Since it's haitat is in the water, it is vital for the California sea Lion to be able to adapt to its evironment by implementing speed.
Another structual adaptation is that of its foreflippers. Curiously its foreflippers contain some elements similar to that of a land mammal, however, the it has been modified for swimming. In comparison to that of a human hand the thumb and the index finger has been enlarged. Based on the skeleton, the thumb has a relativly thick radius, showing that the cross section of the flippers form somewhat like that of a tear drop providing little resistance as possiable as it moves throught the water.
Physiological
Since Californian Sea Lions are often exposed to frigid waters, they often deposit many if not most of their body fat to their thick layer of blubber. This thick layer of fat, will help insulate the seals body in order to help them thrive in the frigid waters. This layer of fat will also provide an additional advantage. The blubber of the seal will help the stream line the body allowing them to move faster in the
"California Sea Lion Facts & Gallery at Blane Perun's TheSea.Org." The Sea, Marine Life Oceanic Resource & Gallery at Blane Perun's TheSea.Org. Web. 29 July 2010. <http://www.thesea.org/TheSea/california_sea_lion.html>.
Habitat and animal background
The California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) as its name suggests, lives around the coastal areas of the state
The California sea lion breeds during in June to July, on offshore islands in the southern islands of the California’s Channel Islands to Mexico. Even with this, there is a small percentile of sea lion pups that are born in Ano Nuevo and Farallon islands in central California, far north of its range. They migrate to warmer climates during breeding season to raise their young, because of the change of seasons (from summer to winter).
Environmental Pressures
The California sea lion evolves to mainly increase its speed. A possible explination could be because of the evolutionary status of that of its predators and prey. The California Sea lions predator and prey mainly include those which have suprising agility and capability to reach speeds that match its own. Therefore there is an environmental pressure to be as fast as possible.
Behavioural
One behavioural aspect to California sea lion is that they are very social. They are often found in groups or packs where they have a larger chance of survival through the overwhelming numbers. This behaviour will allow a better chance of survival of each seal as the overwhelming number of seals will force its predators to have to pick and chose one out of countless others. By sticking together into groups, it also gives an increased chance of a pup’s survival as there are more seals to watch out for danger instead of being on their own.
The second behavioural aspect to California sea lion is that they regulate their body temperatures by placing their backs on the surface of the water. When sea lions regulate their body temperatures, they raise their flippers in the air to absorb heat from the sun, raising their body temperature. This allows them protection from the cool waters they thrive in, allowing them to maintain and regulate their body tempratures. They also have the possibility of coming out of the water and heat themselves up when the sun is shining
Structual
The most notibale structual adaptation of a california sea lion is that its body is of streamline shape. Its sleek body allows it to move fairly quickly in the water to be able to outrun predeators and catch its prey. Since it's haitat is in the water, it is vital for the California sea Lion to be able to adapt to its evironment by implementing speed.
Another structual adaptation is that of its foreflippers. Curiously its foreflippers contain some elements similar to that of a land mammal, however, the it has been modified for swimming. In comparison to that of a human hand the thumb and the index finger has been enlarged. Based on the skeleton, the thumb has a relativly thick radius, showing that the cross section of the flippers form somewhat like that of a tear drop providing little resistance as possiable as it moves throught the water.
Physiological
Since Californian Sea Lions are often exposed to frigid waters, they often deposit many if not most of their body fat to their thick layer of blubber. This thick layer of fat, will help insulate the seals body in order to help them thrive in the frigid waters. This layer of fat will also provide an additional advantage. The blubber of the seal will help the stream line the body allowing them to move faster in the
"California Sea Lion Facts & Gallery at Blane Perun's TheSea.Org." The Sea, Marine Life Oceanic Resource & Gallery at Blane Perun's TheSea.Org. Web. 29 July 2010. <http://www.thesea.org/TheSea/california_sea_lion.html>.
"The Marine Mammal Center : California Sea Lion." The Marine Mammal Center : Home. Web. 29 July 2010. <http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/education/marine-mammal-information/pinnipeds/california-sea-lion/>.
"California Sea Lion." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 29 July 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Sea_Lion>.
"CALIFORNIA SEA LION - Physical Characteristics." SeaWorld/Busch Gardens ANIMALS - HOME. Web. 29 July 2010. <http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/california-sea-lion/physical-characteristics.htm>.